The US government has confirmed the deportation of five individuals described as "criminal illegal aliens" to the southern African nation of Eswatini. According to US Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, these deportees, who hail from countries including Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen, had been convicted of heinous crimes such as child rape and murder. McLaughlin referred to them as “depraved monsters” who had been terrorizing American communities and noted that their home countries had refused to accept them back.
The deportation flight, which landed in Eswatini, follows a previous attempt to send deportees to South Sudan after delays caused by the country’s initial reluctance to accept them. Following the arrival of deportees from the US, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mandated the revocation of visas for South Sudanese passport holders, raising questions about the diplomatic repercussions.
In another instance, Nigeria has resisted demands from the Trump administration to accept deportations of Venezuelan nationals or other third-country prisoners. Trump's hardline stance on immigration, which was a focal point of his campaign, continues to draw both support and criticism, especially as it affects those on student visas and refugees.
The discussion surrounding harsh immigration rules has rekindled concerns among businesses reliant on immigrant labor, reflecting the wider impact of enforcement tactics previously set aside. Recent social media announcements by McLaughlin emphasized the severity of the crimes committed by these deportees, painting a picture of a significant effort to protect American communities.
Though Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland and ruled by King Mswati III since 1986, has not issued a response regarding the deportees, it has been mentioned as a potential destination for such actions in the past. As part of a broader trend, the Trump administration, supported by a recent Supreme Court ruling, is also exploring deportation agreements with other nations, such as Rwanda, Angola, and Moldova, among others, as the US continues to move forward with controversial repatriation strategies.
